International law on war crimes is established to hold individuals accountable for serious violations of the laws and customs of war during armed conflicts. These laws are primarily governed by international humanitarian law (IHL), which includes the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, as well as customary international law. Here are key aspects of the international legal framework regarding war crimes:

1. Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols:

The Geneva Conventions are a set of four international treaties that establish the humanitarian rules of war. They outline the rights and protections afforded to civilians, prisoners of war, and the sick and wounded during armed conflicts. The Additional Protocols further expand these protections and provide detailed regulations on the conduct of hostilities. They also criminalize a wide range of acts when committed intentionally in non-international armed conflicts, which are internal conflicts within a country.

2. Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC):

The ICC is the first permanent international court established to prosecute individuals for the most serious crimes of international concern, including war crimes. The Rome Statute, which established the ICC, defines and codifies various war crimes, such as:

• Grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions: These include willful killing, torture, inhuman treatment, and extensive destruction of property, among others.
• Other serious violations of the laws and customs of war: Acts such as intentionally directing attacks against civilians not taking part in hostilities, or civilian objects, or attacks that cause excessive harm to the environment, are considered war crimes under the ICC jurisdiction.

3. Customary International Law:

Customary international law encompasses practices that have become widely accepted as binding norms over time. Many principles of IHL have become customary international law, and states are bound to uphold them even if they are not party to specific treaties.

4. National Jurisdictions:

States also have the responsibility to prosecute individuals for war crimes under the principle of universal jurisdiction. This means that any state can prosecute individuals for war crimes, regardless of where the crimes were committed or the nationality of the perpetrator or the victim.

5. Command Responsibility:

Individuals, including military and civilian leaders, can be held criminally responsible for war crimes committed by forces under their effective command and control if they knew or should have known about the crimes and did not take necessary and reasonable measures to prevent or punish them.

6. International Cooperation:

States are obligated to cooperate with international tribunals and courts, including the ICC, in the investigation and prosecution of individuals accused of war crimes.

International law on war crimes underscores the commitment of the international community to hold individuals accountable for the most heinous acts committed during armed conflicts. It promotes the idea that even in times of war, there are ethical boundaries that must not be crossed, and those who violate these boundaries will be held accountable for their actions. This framework is essential for fostering a more just and humane world, where impunity is challenged, and perpetrators are brought to justice.

The Open View

October 14, 2023